RUAG Defence has developed an enhanced version of the M109 155 mm self-propelled (SP) artillery system aimed at the export market. The company has already upgraded 348 Swiss Army M109sto the Pz Hb 88/95 standard, which represent the only SP artillery deployed by the Swiss Army. Among the improvements are a modified turret and the use of locally manufactured 155 mm/47 calibre chrome plated ordnance in place of the original 155 mm/39 calibre type. This offers an extended range and has a burst rate of fire of three rounds in 15 seconds due to the installation of a flick rammer.

SAGEM is producing its Paseo modular advanced stabilised sighting (MASS) system for an undisclosed export customer. The Paseo MASS has already been shown fitted to CMI Defence Cockerill’s 3030/40 and 3105 turrets on a General Dynamics European Land Systems MOWAG Desert Piranha 5 8×8 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV). That fit features two Paseo MASS systems installed on the right side of the turret mounted one above the other, the top unit for the commander and the lower one for the gunner.

The Design Office Display of Belarus has developed a new version of its Adunok remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) designated Adunok-W.

While the original Adunok RCWS was armed with a single 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (MG), 12.7 mm Kord (MG), or a 30 mm AG-17A automatic grenade launcher (AGL), the Adunok-W is armed with a Russian 12.7 mm NSVT MG on the right and a 30 mm AG-17A AGL on the left. The 12.7 mm MG is provided with 100 rounds of ready-use ammunition, while the 30 mm AGL has 50 rounds. Ammunition is fed from the right for both weapons.

“BTR-87 features rear apparel [ramp], new internal layout, and more comfortable seats for the crew and mounted soldiers. The vehicle’s engine is located in the front part. The new APC could hardly be defined as the modification of previously developed BTR-82A APC. It is a new vehicle. A BTR-82A can be converted to a BTR-87, but such conversion is not expedient,” Krasovitsky said. He mentioned that the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shown keen interest in the new APC, although VPK is developing BTR-87 on its own initiative.

April 30 marks the release of a new book on the history of Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 202 by Norbert Szamveber. This book, Illustrated History of the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202, is a rather hefty 396 pages along with 108 photos, 40 maps and documents and 9 color plates. For those with an interest in WW2 German armor, this book should prove very interesting.

Publishers Description:

The Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202 was one of the most successful German assault gun units in the Second World War. It had been deployed exclusively on the Eastern Front against the Red Army between 1941 and 1945. The StuGs of this unit were very effective AFVs on the battlefield in the role of heavy weapons for infantry fire support and also as mobile antitank firepower. Dr. Norbert Számvéber, author of Waffen-SS Armour in Normandy and Days of Battle, presents a detailed combat history of this unit, primarily based on archival sources. The book includes a significant number of rare photographs and several maps.

The name Matilda means Strength in Battle from the Germanic roots Maht, meaning strong and Hild meaning battle.

The Matilda was regarded as a superb tank in its day and carved a remarkable career for itself. A few served in France in 1940 but in the early stages of the North African campaign, under General Wavell, it virtually ruled the desert. Even when the Afrika Korps arrived it remained a formidable opponent, immune to everything but the notorious 88mm gun. Its main failings were its slow speed and small gun, which could not be improved.

Valentine Infantry Tank 1938-45 (New Vanguard) is the latest release in the long running New Vanguard series by Osprey Publishing. Written by Dr. Bruce Newsome, this volume follows the well-established model of the New Vanguard series. As with other New Vanguard books, it’s 48 pages and features a combination of photos, drawings and charts to accent the text. As far as we can tell, this is the first New Vanguard title written by Dr. Newsome, most of the previous New Vanguard titles on WW2 British tanks having been authored by David Fletcher. In examining the Valentine, Dr. Newsome has picked one of the more challenging vehicles due to the large number of variants and types of Valentine built during the war.

The Valentine was produced in greater numbers by the British Commonwealth than any other model of tank and yet it generally receives little attention, as evidenced by the fact that this book is the 233rd in the series. Compared to its German and American counterparts, relatively little ink has been devoted to this vehicle, being limited to the old AFV Profile series from the 1970’s, the Museum Ordnance Special from the 1990’s and the more recent books on the Valentine by Dick Taylor.

Given the large number of Valentine variants and the relatively small page count, this book does not give much in-depth detail to any particular Valentine model. One deviation from previous New Osprey titles is the use of fairly large charts. These account for roughly seven pages of the book and are quite useful for providing the details of the various Valentine models in a concise manner. Also addressed in this book are the Bishop and Archer self-propelled guns as well as the ill-fated Valiant “assault” tank. Given the small page count of the New Vanguard series, it might have been better to address these other vehicles in a separate volume. Certainly, there is enough to say about the Valentine to fill two volumes of 48 pages. That said, Dr. Newsome has packed as much information into the book as the New Vanguard format allows.